Poinsettia plant named &#39;NPCW14205&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new poinsettia plant particularly distinguished by having dark red, elongated bracts, dark green leaves, very high vigor, nine week response time, moderate cyathia quantity, and strong stems, is disclosed.

GENUS AND SPECIES

Euphorbia pulcherrima

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘NPCW14205’

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct variety of poinsettia, botanically known as Euphorbia pulcherrima and hereinafter referred to by the variety name ‘NPCW14205’. ‘NPCW14205’ is a selection from a cross-pollination of the proprietary female Euphorbia line ‘EP-2005-0103’ (unpatented) and the proprietary male Euphorbia line ‘EP-2005-0028’ (unpatented).

In November/December of 2007 the proprietary female Euphorbia line ‘EP-2005-0103’ and the proprietary male Euphorbia line ‘EP-2005-0028’ were cross pollinated in Nairobi, Kenya and seeds were obtained. The seeds were sown and plants were grown for evaluation. A plant line was selected in November 2008 in Stuttgart, Germany and named ‘NPCW14205’. In May 2009, ‘NPCW14205’ was first vegetatively propagated by vegetative cuttings. ‘NPCW14205’ was found to reproduce true to type in successive generations of asexual propagation via apical cuttings in Stuttgart, Germany.

SUMMARY

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishing characteristics of this new variety when grown under normal horticultural practices in Stuttgart, Germany.

1. Dark red, elongated bracts;

2. Dark green leaves;

3. Very high vigor;

4. Nine week response time;

5. Moderate cyathia quantity; and

6. Strong stems.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

This new poinsettia plant is illustrated by the accompanying photograph which shows an overall view of the plant. The photograph is of a plant approximately four months old grown indoors Stuttgart, Germany in December 2010. The colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctive characteristics of ‘NPCW14205’. The data which define these characteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out in Stuttgart, Germany. Data was collected on four month old plants grown indoors in Stuttgart, Germany under greenhouse conditions in the fall of 2013. Color references are to The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London (R.H.S.), 5^(th) edition (2007).

-   Classification:     -   -   Family.—Euphorbiaceae.         -   Species.—Euphorbia puicherrima.         -   Common name.—Poinsettia.         -   Variety.—‘NPCW14205’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Male.—Proprietary Euphorbia line ‘EP-2005-0028’.         -   Female.—Proprietary Euphorbia line ‘EP-2005-0103’. -   Growth:     -   -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—4 weeks.         -   Blooming habit.—Intermittent.         -   Flowering response time.—Approximately 63 days.         -   Keeping quality.—Very good. -   Plant description:     -   -   Form.—Triangular.         -   Growth habit.—Upright.         -   Height.—30.0 cm to 32.0 cm.         -   Width.—35.0 cm to 38.0 cm.         -   Number of branches.—5 to 6.         -   Average number of inflorescences per plant.—5.5. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type cuttings.—Apical cuttings.         -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—4 weeks. -   Stems:     -   -   Color.—RHS 143A, on parts of the stem stripes and regions of             RHS 181A.         -   Length.—24.0 cm to 26.0 cm.         -   Internode length.—1.5 cm to 3.5 cm.         -   Diameter.—0.5 cm to 0.8 cm. -   Leaves:     -   -   Quantity.—6 to 7 per lateral branch.         -   Arrangement.—Alternate.         -   Shape.—Ovate.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Obtuse.         -   Margin.—Serrate.         -   Lobes.—Lobation characteristics: Moderately deep Texture             (both surfaces): Smooth Vein color: Upper surface:             Transparent Lower surface: RHS 139D, middle vein and other             veins towards the leaf base changing into RHS 181.         -   Variegation.—Absent.         -   Size.—Length: 4.0 cm to 10.0 cm Width: 3.0 cm to 8.0 cm.         -   Color.—Mature foliage: Upper surface: RHS 139A Lower             surface: RHS 139D Immature foliage: Upper surface: RHS 141A             Lower surface: RHS 139B.         -   Leaf petiole.—Length: 3.0 cm to 6.0 cm Diameter: 0.2 cm to             0.3 cm Color: Upper surface: RHS 59A Lower surface: RHS             181B. -   Inflorescence:     -   -   Lastingness of inflorescence on the plant.—4 weeks.         -   Diameter.—18.0 cm to 22.0 cm.         -   Height.—3.0 to 4.0.         -   Fragrance.—Absent. -   Bracts:     -   -   Number of bracts per inflorescence.—8 to 10.         -   Shape.—Ovate.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Obtuse.         -   Margin.—Slightly serrate.         -   Size.—Length:7.0 cm to 11.0 cm Width: 4.0 cm to 6.0 cm.         -   Texture.—Upper surface: Smooth Lower surface: Smooth.         -   Vein color.—Upper surface: RHS 59A Lower surface: RHS 181 B.         -   Bract color.—Upper surface: RHS 46B Lower surface: RHS 47B.         -   Bract petiole.—Length: 0.5 cm to 2.0 cm Diameter: 0.2 cm to             0.3 cm Color: Upper surface: RHS 59A Lower surface: RHS             181B. -   Cyme:     -   -   Diameter.—1.0 cm to 2.0 cm.         -   Cyathia number.—4 to 6 per inflorescence.         -   Cyathium.—Shape: Ovate Diameter: 0.2 cm to 0.5 cm Length:             0.3 cm to 0.7 cm Color: RHS 143C.         -   Peduncle.—Color: RHS 142B Length: 0.2 cm to 0.6 cm.         -   Nectar cups.—Number: 1 per cyathium Diameter: 0.1 cm Size:             0.3 cm to 0.4 cm Color: RHS 14C. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Stamens.—Quantity: 5 to 8 per cyathium Shape: Ovate.         -   Filament.—Length: 0.25 cm Color: RHS 46A.         -   Pollen.—Quantity: Sparse Color: RHS 12A.         -   Fruit and seed set.—low fruit and seed set.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL LINES AND KNOWN VARIETY

‘NPCW14205’ is a distinct variety of poinsettia having dark red bracts. ‘NPCW14205’ is distinguished from its parents as described in Table 1:

TABLE 1 Comparison with Parental Lines Variety Female parent Male Parent Trait ‘NPCW14205’ ‘EP-2005-0103’ ‘EP-2005-0028’ Bract color Dark red Darker than Lighter red than ‘NPCW14205’ ‘NPCW14205’ Leaf color Dark green Dark green Light green Response- 9 weeks 8.5 weeks 8 weeks time

‘NPCW14205’ is most similar to the commercial poinsettia plant named ‘Prestige Red’ (patent status unknown). Differences between the two varieties are described in Table 2:

TABLE 2 Comparison with Similar Variety Variety Commercial line Trait ‘NPCW14205’ ‘Prestige Red’ Cyathia-quantity Moderate Higher quantity than ‘NPCW14205’ Vigor Very high vigor Medium to high vigor Stem-strength Strong Very strong Bract-shape More elongated than Less elongated than ‘Prestige Red’ ‘NPCW14205’ 

We claim: 1 A new and distinct variety of poinsettia plant named ‘NPCW14205’ as shown and described herein. 